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‘Protect human rights of Mentally Challenged Persons’
● Mr Dan Taylor
The Executive Secretary of MindFreedom Ghana, non-governmental organisation, Mr Dan Taylor, has called for concerted efforts to protect Mentally Challenged Persons (MCPs) across the country against increasing human rights violations.
At an event to commemorate this year’s Mental Health Day in Accra on Tuesday, he described the incidences of human rights violations as a ‘crisis’ despite provisions within the Mental Health Act 846, 2012 which guarantees the rights and freedoms of mentally ill persons.
“Human rights violations unfortunately continue to negatively impact mental health. Abuses including shackling, flogging, forced fasting, chaining and detaining people in obscure places continue to affect treatment of persons with mental health conditions in Ghana and has come under intense international scrutiny.
Having good mental health is a universal human right and everyone deserves to live in an environment where mental health is protected to ensure a healthier and more inclusive world for everyone,” he urged.
On the theme; “Mental Health is a Universal Human Right”, this year’s WMHD provides an opportunity for people and communities to unite in improving knowledge, raise awareness and drive actions that promote and protect everyone’s mental health as a universal human right.
Mr Taylor noted that having a mental health condition should in no way deprive a person of their human rights or to exclude them from decisions about their own health.
He called for increased sensitisation and advocacy among all stakeholders to change ill attitudes and raise awareness on the rights of people with mental health conditions across the country.
“People with mental health conditions should be able to file complaints in cases of human rights violations. There is no gainsaying that mental health services need to be linked to services and support in the community, enabling people living with mental health conditions to access educational, employment, social service and housing opportunities on an equal basis with others.”
The promotion of human rights in mental health, according to the Executive Secretary further called for increased investment in mental health at the national level.
“The depth of neglect of mental health over the years means that the government needs to dedicate more of the health budget to mental health and establish the mental health levy in line with the mental health policy.
Government should also place modern psychotropic medicines on the Essential Medicines List and place it under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) while making sure that mental health workforce at each level of the health care system were developed and trained to ensure that all people have access to good quality mental health services that promote recovery and respect for human rights,” he advocated.
By Abigail Annoh
Ghana’s First Lady, Lordina Mahama, has made a generous donation to the country’s national female Under-17 and Under-20 teams – Black Maidens and Black Princesses- as they continue preparations for major international assignments.
The donation, made on Friday, May 22, was presented on behalf of the First Lady by the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, at the GFA Technical Centre in Prampram.
The gesture forms part of efforts to motivate and support Ghana’s young female footballers as they prepare to represent the country on the international stage.
The donation included essential food items and toiletries aimed at supporting the welfare and well-being of the players and technical teams.
The donation included cartons of Milo, T-rolls, soft drinks, toiletries, and a range of essential supplies aimed at supporting the welfare of the players, enhancing camp conditions, and easing preparations ahead of their respective assignments.
The Black Maidens are currently engaged in preparations for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers and are set to take on Liberia women’s national under-17 football team in the second-leg encounter in Liberia this weekend.
Meanwhile, the Black Princesses have already secured qualification to the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup after overcoming Uganda in the qualifiers, extending Ghana’s remarkable record to eight consecutive appearances at the tournament.
The donation by the First Lady was expected to boost morale within both camps while reinforcing national support for the young female footballers who continue to make the country proud.
The prosecution has officially rested its case in The Republic v Solomon Asamoah & Another, the high-profile legal battle commonly referred to as the “Sky Train” case.
The Deputy Attorney General Justice Srem Sai announced the development, praising the state’s team of hard-working prosecutors for successfully anchoring the state’s evidence before the High Court.
The criminal trial centers on the former Chief Executive Officer and the former Board Chairman of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF).
The duo stands accused of illegally authorizing and paying out US$2 million to a foreign company without obtaining board directives or other mandatory statutory approvals.
State investigators have confirmed that the disbursed millions cannot be found.
Following the closure of the prosecution’s case, the accused persons moved the court for an opportunity to file a submission of no case.
The presiding judge granted the application, ordering the defense to submit their arguments by June 8.
The outcome of the June 8 filings will decide the fate of the trial:
With this, if the judge finds the defense’s submission convincing, the accused will be acquitted and discharged however, If the judge dismisses the submission, the court will order the accused officials to take the stand and explain why they should not face prison sentences.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
